Taxi associations in the Western Cape share a common sentiment with regards to the leadership structure of SANTACO: their views are not being heard at a national level.

There are little to no vertical communication lines between provincial and national structures and there is no clarity on how to calculate the number of individuals allowed to campaign for election in the provincial structures.

What is the function of SANTACO in the taxi industry?

SANTACO is the governing body of taxi associations in the country. Their function is to provide mediation between the taxi industry and the government.

They are also mandated to streamline communications regarding operational issues, funding and programmes related to the taxi industry.

Why are taxi associations on strike in the Western Cape?

Besethu Ndungane, who is the chairperson of the Cape Organisation of Democratic Taxi Associations (CODETA) stated that,

“The mini-bus taxi industry in the Western Cape has been without effective leadership for more than five years. This has resulted in our industry being unable to meet the challenges it faced and new challenges being left unattended.”

The Western Cape High Court had, on 6 June 2018, ordered SANTACO to launch a conference with the objective of resolving the region’s issues over leadership and the differences in opinion over clauses in the SANTACO constitution.

After SANTACO has clearly ignored the taxi associations’ cries for a conference, Ndungane says they have been left with no choice but to down their tools. He added that,

“This has now left the mini-bus taxi industry with no alternative but to withdraw its services throughout the Western Cape, effective from Monday, 6 August 2018, until such time the pre-elective conference is held in the format described above. The first date for the election is 14 August 2018. The pre-elective conference must precede this date.”

Western Cape transport dept warns taxi associations

Donald Grant, who is the Western Cape’s transport MEC, stated that despite the associations’ claims that SANTACO has been avoiding calls for a conference, taxi representatives have walked out, on countless times, during negotiations on when to set a date for the conference.

He stated that,

“my officials and I have gone to extraordinary lengths to facilitate an amicable resolution to the protracted battle between the parties, and the ‘Task Team’s’ threat to withdraw services goes against the spirit of the mediation process.”

Taxi associations have been warned to refrain from using intimidation tactics in their strike. Grant made it clear that,

“any violation of the Code of Conduct for minibus-taxi operators and/or operating licence conditions may result in the deregistration of the association and the withdrawal of operating licences.”